The best of what to do in and around L.A. this week.

Celebrate Cinco de Mayo with Tex-Mex this week in Los Angeles. Then, see the city through a bird-watcher’s eyes, find a beautiful handmade item to bring home from the Echo Park Craft Fair, and take mom out for a delectable Mother’s Day brunch that the whole family will be jealous of. Or, escape the city altogether for the quiet beachfront cottages of Crystal Cove.

May 7 | Bird-watchingBird L.A. DaySee Los Angeles in a new light on Bird L.A. Day, when rooftops all over the city will open for special bird-watching events. Put on by the Los Angeles Audubon Society, Bird L.A. Day will include bird walks at the Museum of Natural History, bird-watching and bird tours at the Old L.A. Zoo in Griffith Park, and birds and beer at the Ace Hotel’s rooftop bar downtown. Sip on a cocktail and try to spot a rare bird or two. National Park Service bird experts will be on-site to share their knowledge.Times and locations vary | Free | website

May 7–8 | Art fairEcho Park Craft FairBeatrice Valenzuela and Rachel Craven founded the Echo Park Craft Fair back in 2009 as a way to showcase all of the talented artists and artisans who call the Eastside home. It’s also become a community-building event that brings people from all over Los Angeles (yes, even west of the 405) to bask in the creative energy of 70 artists and over 3000 guests. From fresh flower bouquets to handmade shoes, jewelry, and juices, there really is something for everyone at this high-end fair and farmers' market.10 a.m.–6 p.m. | Mack Sennet Studios, 1215 Bates Ave., Los Angeles | (213) 986-8914 | From $10 | website

May 7–8 | Escape the cityCrystal CoveCrystal Cove is located just off busy Pacific Coast Highway between Corona Del Mar and Laguna Beach. But the tucked-away state park feels like it’s a million miles away from the traffic and hustle of the city. It has 3.2 miles of beaches and roughly 2,400 acres of pure wilderness, which means you can mountain bike, surf, and check out the tide pools all in one day. There are even historical cottages to stay in—and at a fraction of the price of the nearby hotels. These coastal abodes were all built in the 1940s and 1950s when the area was a seaside colony.Crystal Cove State Park Historic District, Newport Coast | website

May 8 | Mother’s DayOrsa and Winston's Mother’s Day Brunch The best way to show mom how much you love her is with a glorious brunch and a mimosa (or three). Orsa and Winston’s brunch is a way for Chef Josef Centeno to honor all of the women who have nurtured his palate and helped shape his culinary career. Chef Centeno is offering a five-course menu at his Orsa and Winston restaurant that includes coddled eggs, slow-roasted ocean trout with pickled ramp vinaigrette, an asparagus salad with wild mushrooms and lemon rhubarb vinaigrette, lobster agnolotti with peas and favas, and a fennel meringue with mascarpone and berries. It’s a delicious day for the mothers in your life—and an excuse for you to eat well, too.11 a.m.–3 p.m. | 122 W. 4th St., Los Angeles | (213) 687-0300 | $65 per person | website

Eva Glettner is a writer and a native Angeleno. She loves art, travel, coffee, and skateboarding.